Education for Ministry – EFM

EFM is a program that deepens the knowledge, experience, worship and spiritual lives of lay persons through weekly sessions. Many people think that one must be ordained in order to be "a minister." The fact is that all baptized Christians are called to be active participants in the church's total ministry. This Total Ministry is nothing less than the exercise of the church's vocation to continue the ministry of Jesus. He reconciled the world to God. We are called to incarnate that reconciliation in our own time and in our own place through worship, service to others, and by proclamation of his Word to all people. The EFM program is preparation for the ministry to which we are called. It is that vocation for which we pray at the end of the Eucharist: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."

To learn more about EFM go to their website: www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html

EFM groups in the Diocese of Vermont

For information on the EFM group meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, contact Ann Ely at mockingbird1953@gmail.com

For information on the Central Vermont EFM group, which meets in Barre, contact the Rev. Kevin Fisher, goodshepherdvermont@gmail.com or 802-476-3929.

The Southeast Deanery clergy and the Diocese of Vermont are sponsoring an EFM group. For information, contact the Southeastern Vermont EFM planner, Thad Bennett, at 802-365-7269 or tbennett@dioceseofvermont.org.